William h



(No Model.)

W. H. JOHNSON. 001111 PLANTBR.

110.284,858.. y Pai-.811881188118 11,1888.

WITNESS/2S y M @HHN/legs N. PETERS Pham-mmmpmr. wamznglm nc.

UNITED Sra-TES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM JOHNSON, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO THOMAS A. GALT ANDGEORGE S. TRACY, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,858, datedSeptember 11, 1883.

Application tiled April 25,1883. (No model.)

.To all whom it muy concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. JoHNsoN,.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county ofVhiteside and State of Illinois, `have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Corn-Planters; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exactv description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of thisspecification. A

My invention has reference to corn-planters, and pertains moreparticularly to improvements inthe dropping mechanism thereof. Asgenerally used, the dropping is done simultaneously from twoseed-droppers drawn over the field in parallel lines. The droppingdevices in and beneath each seed-hoppen are alike, and are actuated bythe usual reciprocating connecting-bar,extending from one hopper to theother. Therefore I do not deem it necessary to show or describe thedropping devices of more than one of such seed-hoppers.

In the drawings, Figure lis a rear elevation of the dropping devices intheir relative positions with the seed-hopper removed. Fig. 2 is a planview of suchflropping devices in position with the cut-off plate Sremoved. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the reciprocating horizontalstirrup B, to the inner end, B, of which the ordinary transversereciprocating bar which actuates the seeding devices is attached. Fig. 4is a detached view of the pawl-arms D D and pawls T T. Fig. 5 is a planview of the base-plate E, having affixed to its upper surface thecircular seed-plate seat F. Fig. 6 is the circular seed plate G, havingthe spurs or lugs G.

H is the vertical tube or boot in the rear of thel seed-runner, inwhich, near the lower end thereof, is placed the horizontal shelf H.

.T is a rock-shaft, journalcd at its lowerend in the shelf H, and at itsupper end in the base-plate ofthe seed-hopper. Theback of the rock-shaftJ forms the back of the tube H, and such shaft is oscillated laterallyby means of a crank projection, I, at its upper end, placed in a clutch,L, formed on the rear edge ofthe reciprocating stirrup B. A verticalpartition is formed on the front side of the rock-shaft J, which has theeffect of dividing the tube H vertically into two chambers.

. E is the base-plate of the seed-hopper, to the upper side of which isrigidly affixed the circular seed-plate seatvF. A hole, K, in the lattertwo plates communicates with the upper end of the seed-tube H. The shortpost M extends upward from the plate F, and furnishesV the pivot for thearms D D and seed-plate G.

T T are pawls having their respective stems piyotally attached in avertical plane to radial paWl-arlns D D, which latter are bent inwardlyat right angles, and the inner ends thereof pivoted on the center post,M, under the seedplate seat F, thelatter being placed sufficiently abovethe baseplate E to permit the inner ends of the arms D Dto oscillatehorizontally between such plates E and F. The pawls TT are hinged, asaforesaid, so as to rise in receding over the spurs G on the seed-plateG. The outer end of each arm D D is pivoted horizontally to the shortposts O, formed on the upper side of the stirrup B, which connection isformed by means of a transverse horizontal slot, a, inthe outer ends ofthe arms D, in which the posts O play, and which slots permit the outerends of the arms D to move in an arc, as hereinafter explained. Thepawls T T operate of course in opposite directions and at opposite sidesofthe seed-plate G. The latter is the usual annular seed-plate, pivotedon the central post, M, and having the spurs G on its periphery and theannular series of seed-cups G.

B is a horizontal stirrup reciprocated by the usual connecting-bar,attached to such stirrup at B. The stirrup B is provided with the stopsvI), which engage the spurs G when the seed! plate G has beensufficiently revolved for one action, and hol d such plate until thenext action. S is the ordinary cut-off plate,placed over the seed-plateG in the bottom of the seed hopper, and provided with the cut-off S.

The purpose of my invention is to secure at cach movement of thereciprocatingstirrup B a full action of the seed-plate (3f-thatA is,that the seed-plate shall be so far rotated at each of such actions thatone of the seed-cups Gshall pass under the cutoff S and discharge itscontents through the hole K into the seed-tube H.

In former modes of rotating the seed-plate G the devices actuating thesame moved in straight lines, While the periphery of such platetraversed a circle. 'This rendered it possible for the actuating deviceto slip past the vendvof the spur or lug on the seed-plate before thelatter was suiciently rotated, particularly after the ends of such lugshad been Worn by the repeated passages of the actuating paWls orprojections.

In my invention, by pivoting the fixed ends of the radial arms D,Whichcarry the pawvls T, on a center common with that of the seedplate G, thefree end of the paivl ino'ves in the saine circle with the spursorlugsfG on ,the periphery of such seed-plate, and thus foll'vY suchspurs in their orbit to the lirnit of each action. There is V thereforeno possibilityof such paWls failing iii any instanceto actuate 4theseed-plate to the full extent of their stroke. Y

The operation of my invention is obvious.` A t each actionof the stirrupB the free endo'f oneof the pawls T engages one of thefspuis G of theseed-plate G, and rotates the latter brietenth of a revolution. On thereverseaction of the stirrnp B the opposite pav'vl 4engages,the oppositeside of such seed-plate With like effect, the iirst-nan1ed pawvl beingineaiiivhile with, drawn to its original position'. ,l Each of suchactions passes one seed-c`upI `filled with 'seed under the cut-off S',and discharges such seed through the hole K down :one of the chainbeisof the tube H upon the shelf H.. Eachactibn of the stirrup B gives anoscillation to the rock-shaft J and the latter at 'each oscillation, bymeans of its vertical partition aforesaid, presents a new chainber underthe hole K, and

sweeps from the shelf H the seed deposited thereon at the next previousdrop. The diameter of the hole K is equal to the Width of pawls T T,borne, respectively, on radial arms D D, the inner ends of which latterare pivoted to a center common to that of the rotating seed-plate G,substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. In a corn-planter, the pawls T T, having the movement of their outeror engaging ends in an arc, Ain coi'nbination with the seed-plate G,having the spurs G', substantially as sliown and for the purposementioned. l i

3. In corn-planter, pa lls T T,bo"1"`1l`e 'on radial arrnsD D, pivotedat the center of inotion of theseed-plate G, in combination with suchseed-plate,substantially as shown, and for the purpose specied. I l 4.The coinbination, in a corn-planter, of ther parvis T T, Vradial arnis DD, stirrup B, aidseed-plate G, substantially as shown, and for thepurpose described. A l

5. The combination of the alternately-actin g vawls T T having a )ivotedconnection on P 7 .e l

theciter post, M,`se`edpla` te G, pivoted on such post, stirrup. B, postM, tube H, rockshaftuJ, yand cut-off S, substantially as shown, andforthe purpose herein named. v In testimony whereof I aiX my signaturein presence of tivo Witnesses.

VILLIAM H.

V'Vitnesses B. HUBBARD, VALTER STAGER.

JOHNSON.

